The city is financially well-managed. And its much-needed roads-repair project is progressing nicely, although more money will be needed to complete it and provide for ongoing maintenance.

Amy Worth (Laura A. Oda/Bay Area News Group)

Meanwhile, city officials need to stop dragging their feet on downtown development that includes retail, office and, most importantly, residential housing. As home to a BART station, Orinda has a regional responsibility to provide, and would benefit from, much-needed transit-oriented development.

The best chance of making that happen is by re-electing City Council members Eve Phillips and Amy Worth, who bring differing perspectives to the debate over the future of the downtown but are well-positioned to forge a much-needed compromise.

Eve Phillips (Jon Kawamoto/Bay Area News Group)

The best pick for the third seat on the Nov. 6 ballot is Dennis Fay, the former executive director of the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency, who would bring a strong transportation perspective to the council. Fay has served on Orinda’s Citizens Infrastructure Oversight Commission and was involved with the early planning for the current roads-repair project.

We choose Fay over former Planning Commissioner Nick Kosla because of Fay’s stronger mastery of city finances and Kosla’s role as a development consultant and former planner for large developers. For the downtown planning to move forward amicably, the community must feel it’s not being driven by the building community.

Dennis Fay (Laura A. Oda/Bay Area News Group)

We ruled out the fifth candidate, Kathleen Jenkins, after she refused to meet and answer questions.

All of the candidates we met with endorse the city’s conservative and prudent approach to its finances. Unlike most cities, Orinda has no pension debt because it offers employees 401(k)-style savings accounts instead.

However, the city does offer a small retiree health care benefit to workers. And that program is underfunded by more than $400,000.

The council must start responsibly addressing this debt before it becomes a bigger problem — and certainly before the next election.